In 1851, George McJunkin was born as a slave near Midway, Texas. After the Civil War ended, he was released at the age of 14.
McJunkin spoke Spanish and had previous horse experience. He had helped his father in his blacksmith shop since he was a child, but he had never had the opportunity to learn to read. He left home to join a cattle drive, which took him to northeastern New Mexico. He took odd jobs while traveling to help pay for his food and clothes. He dug a well for a man in order to buy his first pair of used cowboy boots.
McJunkin’s abilities improved with each new job he completed. McJunkin eventually became known as one of New Mexico’s best horsebreakers and cowboys. He began trading horse-breaking lessons for reading lessons and soon began reading anything he could get his hands on. He had always been fascinated by the natural world and was particularly interested in science.
McJunkin was working as a foreman at the Crowfoot Ranch when the great flood hit nearby Folsom, New Mexico, in 1908. During the storm, at least 15 people were killed. After the storm passed, McJunkin mounted his horse and rode out to inspect the damage. During this time, he discovered large bones that were far too large to be bison. He attempted to summon someone to investigate the discovery. Scientists did not study the Folsom site until after his death in 1922, and their findings shocked the scientific world.
They discovered the remains of a Bison antiquus at a Paleo-Indian site dating back to 9000 BCE, where ancient bison were slaughtered by early people using special tools known as Folsom points. Scientists were able to establish a human presence in North America approximately 7,000 years earlier than previously thought.
McJunkin’s discovery of an archaeological site eventually yielded human remains known as “Folsom Man.” McJunkin never married and had no children. He did not live long enough to see scientific acknowledgement of the significance of his discovery. McJunkin died in Folsom, New Mexico, in January 1922, at the Folsom Hotel.